Ramo Corona to Citizen, March 23, 1866

[Translation.]

REPUBLICAN ARMY—UNITED BRIGADES OF SINALOA AND JALISCO—GENERAL-IN-CHIEF.

Citizen Governor: I have already given an account of events at Presidio up to the evening of the 20th instant. There was a little firing that night. On the morning of the 21st the enemy again approached the river and was driven back with no loss on our side. The next day there was a skirmish in which we lamented the loss of our brave Commander, C. Juan Miramontes.

At seven in the evening the enemy attracted our attention in several places, and finally escaped towards Balamo, along the river road. At eight all our line was on the move, and I ordered Colonel Francisco Tolentino, with a part of his corps, to cut off the enemy’s retreat, which he did; however, the land was so broken and the enemy’s hurry so great, he managed to get by, and we had to follow him with the cavalry, under Colonel Eulogio Parra and Commander Leonardo Pintado, a league beyond the river.

The narrowness of the road prevented the effective action of the cavalry. In view of this, I ordered a portion of the infantry in front, under Captain Noriega and Commander C. Ascencion G. Calvillo, as aid. They pursued the flying enemy till five in the morning, when we stopped to rest, as our forces were much fatigued, and the enemy had got under shelter of their gunboats. He left three dead. We lost two men at Balamo, and Captain Maximiano Ramirez was wounded; further on, another soldier was wounded, and before we arrived at the river bank one of our men was killed and two wounded in the Degollano battalion. After setting fire to some houses in Presidio, and destroying a cotton factory, the enemy retreated rapidly, closely pursued by our men, and left the following effects on the road: 7 loads of ammunition, 98 muskets, 2 mountain pieces, 15 sacks of flour, sugar, bread and coffee, 5 loads of baggage, 27 harnessed mules, and 5 horses.

On my return to Presidio I orderd the tents to be struck, and 82 bodies to be buried; 61 of these were republicans, whose name, rank, and station are on the list; 76 were wounded, which I sent to the hospital. These events happened from the 19th to the 22d of the present month. You will perceive that the number of killed and wounded is about equal; but I account for this by hearing that the enemy took no prisoners, for the 15 that were taken from us on the 19th were shot as soon as all important information could be extorted from them.

400 French and 600 traitors left the port with six mountain howitzers and one field-piece; and 250 French, with 77 wounded, and 250 traitors, with 20 wounded and 3 field-pieces, left Presidio at the same time.

I am trying to find if the missing pieces are buried or hid in the thicket. The French at the port speak in terror of the bravery of our soldiers, and in fact I must say they all did their duty.

I send you this communication for the information of the war department.